Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit.

Okay just to give you all a heads up, for the sake of this story Kili and Tauriel are not per-say in love and more along the lines of unlikely friends. Just for future reference. Please do not hate on me but the mild Kili/Marie/Thorin triangle needs to still be in play for dramatic purposes.

Please read and enjoy.

Old friend and new were once again together and settling back into the mild routine they had accomplished since gaining the mountain. Marie took it upon herself to see Bofur, Oin and the boys fed, washed and freshly clothed as a means to feel useful. Dori of course helped with finding some new shirts and tunics and a few more dresses he had hoped to dress her in. She politely turned the offer again and busied herself with cooking some of the dried meat for the new arrivals.

"Fili could you be a dear and bring me those plates?" She asked the blonde prince who had been hovering about the fire for the last ten minutes recounting to her what had happened in Lake Town. "So your saying that an elf just came though the ceiling just like that?"

He had gotten to the party where orcs had attack before the dragon did.

"Something like that." He said, helping her by holding the plates while she piled on the food. "Those elves made quick work of the scum. The blonde guard took of and Kili's she elf stayed behind."

"His what know?" Marie asked.

"Yes, apparently he made a friend while we were captured. Tauriel I think her names was." Fili took a few of the plates over to the table while Marie carried the rest. She had heard that name before in Mirkwood.

"Regardless she stayed behind and saved my brother's life. That is is a fact."

"What are you talking about Fee?" Kili snapped his head up from the table. He had been napping until his name had been mentioned. Oin sat opposite contently with his hands folded on the wooden table.

"Oh just your extraordinary elf Kili." Fili gave him his plate and ruffled his hair. "Always knew you had a thing for red heads."

"It's nothing like what you think it is." Kili grumbled.

Maire gave Oin is food with a small smile. The elder dwarf purposely left his ear drum hanging around his neck unused so that he was not listening to gossip. "I think it's sweet." She said.

"An elf and a dwarf can be friends." The level of Kili's voice was louder than it needed to be and he quickly lowered it. "Can they?"

"Calm youself. Your brother and I are just pulling your leg." Marie patted his shoulder fondly. "I am sure that elves and dwarves can be friends, provided they can put their stubborn pride aside for two minutes."

"You'll be lucky to make it to one." Fili said and took a seat by Kili's side.

"Now," Marie looked about the room, "Where did Bofur run off to? I told him to stay put."

"He …. was here a moment ago." Kili looked over his shoulder then back to her, "He did mention something about Bifur."

Marie sighed and rubbed her temples, "Trying to keep track of dwarves is like trying to rangle children I swear. Right then," She headed towards the door on the other side of the room, "Better find him."

"I'll go with you."

"No." Maire held up a finger to stop Kili. "You are going to sit and eat until that plate is clean by the time I get back. Don't make me force feed you."

Fili was clearly sniggering as his brother remained prone half way up from his seat thanks to Marie's command, his face pink. "I'll make sure he does so ma'am." Fili pulled Kili back into his seat and turned his head to his plate. Marie was pleased with this and head out to find Bofur. Her reasons behind her determined search was out of need to remain distracted. Looking after the dwarves kept her mind off Thorin and the Arkenstone … for the most part.

He was getting worse.

A few more brazers had been lit and helped Marie aong her way, but did nothing to surpress the eiriness she felt. And it confussed her as to where she had to go again.

'It is amazing how dwarves could navigate this place, considering how lost they can get.'

So Marie just followed the sounds she could pick up and with any luck she would find Bofur eventually. What she found in time was a large library instead.

"Mm. Must have taken a wrong turn." Scolls upon scrolls were piled up on decretive shelves that spanned for a mile and stood high above the tiny hobbit. There were also plenty of books and documents. "The Archives perhaps?" It felt nice for Marie to be surrounded by books again and it was comforting to know that the dragonfire had not damaged this place. But Marie was under the distinct impression that she wasn't alone. She could hear laboured breaths coming from within, slow uneven breathes that made Marie worry. With tentative steps, she approached whoever it was.

Through the bookcases, there was a mane of white hair hunched over a shelf.

Was that ... Balin? Shaking?

A loud sniff confirmed Marie's fear and she could no longer hang back. "Balin?" Her gentle voice still made the old dwarf flinch. He had a hand to his face to hide himself.

"Yes lass. Excuse me." His fingers pinched his large nose he faced her, still bracing against the shelf, "You seemed to have caught me at bad time."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"I don't believe you." By now Marie had reached his side and placed a warm hand on his shoulder. He was losing composure again, but Marie was there for him. His humble wise eyes were blood shot and his jaw quivered. It was distressing to see such a kind person in such a state.

"Dragon Sickness." He finally said. "I've seen it before. That look, a terrible need."

"A terrible need?" Marie asked.

"Yes. A need that blinds you from all else. It is a fierce and jealous love Marie." Balin raised up his free hand, clenching it tightly, "It sent his grandfather mad."

Marie grabbed his hand and cradled it in between her's. "Balin. If ... if the Arkenstone if found ...?" 'Careful Maire.' "Would it help Thorin to have it?"

Balin eyed her curiously, "That stone crowns all." He said slowly, "It is the summit of this great wealth. Would is stay his madness? No dear. I fear it would only make him worse."

"Then what can we do?"

"For once, I am completely unsure if there is anything, other than pray that Thorin will come to his senses of his own volition." Balin sighed. "And soon I hope." He leaned closer to her, "I fear his madness is making him question."

Marie gulped. "Question what?"

"The loyalty of some. When Dwalin and I spoke with him early, he vowed retribution to any who withhold the Arkenstone from him." Marie felt there was a pit forming in her stomach.

"Perhaps if you were to talk with him."

"Me? How would that improve things?"

Balin smiled, but it was a sad smile. "You may not see it yourself Lass, but you bring out a part of him. A side of himself he never let's anyone, save for those he trusts and cares for most."

Marie's mouth gapped like a fish as she tried to answer. Balin took a deep breath and clasped her hands tightly, "Please Marie. Just try and speak with him."

xxxx

Marie didn't go to Thorin like Balin had hoped, but to a quiet place to think some more.

What Balin had just told her only doubled the problem she was facing. If she gave Thorin the Arkenstone, he would fall further into madness. If she did nothing, he may continue to sift through each treasure pile himself until he found it. Now if he were find out the jewel was in her pocket the whole time he may very well punish her.

Dragon Sickness. A fierce and jealous love Balin had called it.

Marie had seen it in his eyes too and glanced at her wrist nervously to spot the bruised skin from where he had grabbed her.

He was always as gentle with her when he could be, when her neck was injured he was ever so careful inspecting it.

Marie licked her chapped lips and lent back against the cool wall. It hurt to think about that.
"What the ..." Something was scratching at the nape of her neck. A bug? Marie stood abruptly and a hand flew to her neck. She caught what ever it was between her middle and ring fingers, it was dry and crumbled a little. "Huh?" Marie broug ht her hand around to look at it and just about laughed. How ironic. After all that she had been through and had seen she still got a fright from this.

"What it is that?"

Marie's body jolted and she looked over her shoulder. Thorin was, in every sense of the word, charging towards her from shadows, the black fur of his robes made for a foreboding sight for the hobbit, who just stood there unable to move or speak until he was upon her.

"In your hand. Show me!" He thundered.

Marie's fingers opened wider and she looked down at her hand, Thorin following her gaze. There, resting in her palm was a dried yellow flower. A Sun Pebble.

Marie dared to peek up. He seemed devoid of his fury, slowly looking more and most lost in his eyes.

"It must have been caught in my collar." Marie finally said, faking an amused smile and let the flower crumble and fall from her hand. "That or I did a terrible job cleaning my hair. What would my mother think."

Thorin could only blink, his lips parted was a heavy sigh. Was he disappointed? Or perhaps relieved?

"Would …. yoooouuu like to walk with me? I mean if you are not needing be somewhere at the moment." Marie asked. Thorin said nothing, not even a yes or a no, so Marie started to walk anyway. It was easy enough to hear him follow her thanks to his metal boots and he caught up to her in no time. And so they walked side by side.

'Just try and talk to him. The key word being 'try'.'

"I didn't see any flower on the way up the mountain. Shame really." Marie clasped her hands behind her back. "Not even a bud in sight." She watched his response out of the corner of her eye. He still looked withdrawn and had begun twisting that plain ring on his middle finger again with his thumb.

"This is causing you distress?" He asked.

Marie shrugged. "I had hoped to find at least a small patch of Sun Pebble."

"Whatever for?"

"To take back home."

Thorin raised an eyebrow. "A poor price to take back to the Shire."

"So what? I could plant it next to my Gardener's Gold." Marie's feet scuffed along the floor. "That would make me very happy indeed."

"You hobbits and your flowers." Did he scoff? He did. Marie got in front of him. "It's more than Thorin."Marie explained while walking backwards, "They will bloom in the Spring and Summer, and everytime I'd look at them, it will remind me of the adventure that led me to them and how lucky I am that I made it home."

Thorin slowed to a stop.

"What?" Marie teetered as her heel knocked on a stone pillar throwing her off balance for a second. "Woops!" Once she caught herself, she heard a deep rumbling noise. Thorin was chuckling and those eyes of his, vauge moments before, were shiny with amusement. Perhaps Balin was right. "Besides, I would be the only one to grow Uzud Abanel."

"You mean Urzudul Abanul." Thorin corrected her, still twisting his ring so that it sat on his knuckle.

"Ur .. Uzudul …"

"Abanul."

"Uzudul Abanul. That's a mouthful." Marie coughed, "And it hurts the throat."

"It is a coarse language, not meant for the gentle like yourself." Thorin started walking again, shaking his head as he passed her.

Marie grinned and followed along after him. "And yet you have often made comment on my bitter tongue. Not bitter enough for your tastes Thorin?"

And with that the dwarf froze. Something she had said? Marie gently touched his arm. His brow was knitted together and there were lines forming around his eyes. He looked conflicted. A soft 'tink' could be heard and something bumped against Marie's foot. She looked down and saw Thorin's iron ring rolling about. He must have worn it completely off his finger without noticing and Marie bent down to retrieve it. But when she offered it to him he did not acknowledge it. "Thorin?"

"Tell me something Miss Baggins." He asked in a voice so low it could have been a whisper. "Do you wish to go home so badly?"

That was … a little out of context and surprised Marie. "Well … yes I miss the Shire."

"And if you had a chance to leave, at this moment, would you take it?"

"I …well when you ask it like that it just …umm." Marie was certainly confused. Her hand was still holding out his ring, a rather plain piece when compared to the gold a glittering stones he now wore. All it had was a simple rune etched into the iron. "If it was my only chance … perhaps, but …."

Just how would she get back home? Gandalf? He was still nowhere to be found.

Thorin reached for her hand, easily closing over her's ring and all. This felt very familiar to a flushed Marie, only reversed. The dwarf's thumb swept over her fingers, making the blush spread over her face faster. "You would always be welcomed here Marie." Thorin said, lost in his own world as he stared at their joined hands. Marie's heart started getting fasters as she watched Thorin slowly smiling one of those rare smiles that made her stomach flip. "No doubt you could win over any dwarf … in time." Suddenly it was only the two of them. No treasure, no dark halls, nothing.

"Ugh … Thorin?"

"If asked …. would you stay?"

'Did he just … did he just ask …?'

"Thorin!"

The spell over them was broken.

Dwalin was heading towards them, "The survivors from Lake Town, they're streaming into Dale." He informed them, seemingly oblivious to the situation of his king and their burglar. "There's hundreds of them."

Immediately Thorin's demeanor changed. His smile faded and was replaced with a scowl. A terrifying scowl. He let go of Marie's hand quickly and turned to Dwalin, storming back down into the dark with Dwalin close behind. "Call the men to the gate." He ordered, "To the gate!"

Marie could only stand there, holding her closed fist to her chest with Thorin's ring still in her possession and her answer left on the tip of her tongue.